From the Guardian...
China’s embassy in Ukraine is warning its citizens there to take cover as the situation has “deteriorated sharply”, according to
a post on its WeChat page. It urges Chinese citizens and Chinese-funded enterprises to take shelter, and stay indoors away from glass windows, and to keep in touch with Chinese associations and representatives in the country. Those traveling by car should make sure they are able to refuel, and if they get stuck the embassy is suggesting they affix a Chinese flag to their car.
The reason for this isn’t totally clear. China has not so far ordered or suggested its citizens evacuate from Ukraine, as other governments have done in recent days and weeks. China’s government and President Xi Jinping have been forging closer ties with Russia and Putin in recent years, and there is a lot of speculation over exactly
how China will handle the invasion. We reported a little earlier today that China’s ministry of foreign affairs is so far saving its condemnation for the US and allies, accusing them of fanning tensions and inciting war, while at the same time rejecting the characterisation of Russia’s move today as an “invasion”.
The UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, said he was “appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine” and had also spoken to Zelenskiy “to discuss next steps”.
“President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine. The UK and our allies will respond decisively,” he said.
France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, who had made a last ditch effort to broker peace through a summit between Putin and Biden, was in contact with Zelenskiy on his mobile phone early on Thursday.
He said: “France strongly condemns Russia’s decision to wage war on Ukraine. Russia must end its military operations immediately.
“France stands in solidarity with Ukraine. It stands with the Ukrainians and works with its partners and allies to end the war.”
In a statement, Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said: “Germany condemns in the strongest possible terms this unscrupulous act by President Putin. Our solidarity goes out to Ukraine and its people.”
The world “will not forget this day of shame”, Germany’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, said.
Mario Draghi, Italy’s prime minister, who has until now been cautious over imposing the most hard-hitting sanctions on Russia, suggested the EU would be unified in an immediate and tough response.
He said: “The Italian government condemns Russia’s attack on Ukraine. It is unjustified and unjustifiable.
“Italy is close to the Ukrainian people and institutions in this dramatic moment. We are working with European and Nato allies to respond immediately, with unity and determination.”
Japan’s prime minister, Fumio Kishida, said his government strongly condemned Russia’s one-sided aggression. A virtual meeting of the G7, the world’s seven biggest economies, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US, is scheduled for later on Thursday.
The prime minister of Belgium, Alexander De Croo, said his country strongly condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine, describing the moment of invasion as “Europe’s darkest hour since the second world war”.
He said: “This Russian aggression is unnecessary and unprovoked. Our hearts and minds are with the people of Ukraine.”
Shortly after reports broke of explosions near Kyiv, the US president, Joe Biden, accused his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, of choosing a “premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering”.
“The prayers of the world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces,” he said.
“Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way,” Biden said. “The world will hold Russia accountable.”
Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel, the presidents of the European Commission and European Council, issued a joint statement in which they promised financial and humanitarian assistance for Kyiv and vowed to “impose massive and severe consequences on Russia for its action”.
Von der Leyen said Putin was responsible “for bringing war back to Europe”, describing the Russian leader’s behaviour as “barbaric”, as she outlined the scale and scope of the punitive measures planned.
She said: “We will hold President Putin accountable for that. With this package, we will target strategic sectors of the Russian economy by blocking their access to key technologies and markets.
“We will weaken Russia’s economic base and its capacity to modernise. In addition, we will freeze Russian assets in the EU and stop the access of Russian banks to the European financial market.”
